Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Forest Hill, MD

Elk Neck State Park Campground accommodates pets in tent sites, RV spaces and cabins with full hookups for water, electric and sewer connections. Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina welcomes dogs at their waterfront camping area where pets can be walked around the campground despite posted restrictions. Both parks maintain clean facilities with modern bathhouses and showers. Campsites include fire pits and picnic tables, with Bar Harbor offering sites literally 10 feet from the water with great views. The waterfront sites at Bar Harbor allow fishing directly from your campsite, though they can be pricey compared to interior locations. Most pet-friendly campgrounds in the region enforce standard leash policies and waste cleanup requirements.

Susquehanna State Park Campground provides access to numerous dog-friendly hiking trails leading down to Deer Creek and the Susquehanna River. Merry Meadows Recreation Farm features spacious, wooded sites scattered throughout a natural setting where dogs can enjoy the outdoors. The resort offers numerous activities that families with pets can participate in, including Easter egg hunts and adult scavenger hunts during holiday weekends. While hiking with dogs, visitors should be prepared for terrain changes on trails leading to scenic overlooks of the Susquehanna River. Nearby Codorus State Park also allows pets at its campground, with sites available for tent camping, RVs, cabins, and yurts. Most campgrounds in the region require advance reservations, especially during summer months and weekends when pet-friendly sites book quickly.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Forest Hill, Maryland (96)

    1. Susquehanna State Park Campground

    24 Reviews
    Darlington, MD
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 557-7994

    $21 - $50 / night

    "Our site was really good and I love that it had it's own access to the bathrooms. Quite a few of the inner loop sites do. If you're a tent camper Acorn has some very private and secluded sites."

    "The campsites are separated more widely than many other parks in Maryland (Cunningham Falls, Ft. Frederick, Pt. Lookout), and are quite secluded in comparison."

    2. Elk Neck State Park Campground

    60 Reviews
    Perryville, MD
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 287-5333

    $21 - $55 / night

    "Accessible and pet friendly. Great trails and great staff"

    "Our go to State Park for camping as it is pretty close to home. Standard State Park with all the amenities you need. We are tent campers/ non electric (no pets/ no kids)."

    3. Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina

    8 Reviews
    Abingdon, MD
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 679-0880

    $70 - $90 / night

    "The campground seemed to stress pet restrictions both in the rules section of their registration packet and signage around the grounds."

    "This is close to us so it was an easy trip. Full hookup but we’re told to turn off and unhook water the night it dropped below freezing."

    4. Merry Meadows Recreation Farm

    19 Reviews
    Freeland, MD
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (410) 329-6636

    "Our dog was welcomed. Will definitely be going back. This was our first trip with our camper ever and everyone was helpful"

    "It was a VERY dark walk to get to the bathhouse for showers. And the fire pit had no grill, so we ended up having to use the stoves of some RV camping friends for meals."

    5. Tucquan Park Family Campground

    12 Reviews
    Holtwood, PA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 284-2156

    "There was a lot of space so walking our dogs was great. The smaller bathroom stalls are pretty small but got the job done. Playground and pool were both nice and clean. Wonderful place for a family."

    "Highly recommend staying here with lots of close hiking trails within driving distance."

    6. Muddy Run Rec Park - PPL

    11 Reviews
    Holtwood, PA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 284-4325

    "The large lake is great for a day of kayaking and fishing with supplies readily available for rent at the boat dock store."

    "The observatory is open to public once a month, we recommend you plan your trip around this."

    7. Jellystone Park™ Quarryville

    19 Reviews
    Quarryville, PA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 610-4505

    "So we make sure to get close spots so we can walk. You can bring pets but we choose not to as we are not at the camp much. We do go fishing while we are here and my daughter loves this place"

    "We stayed here in November with beautiful weather which meant the large farm behind the campground was spraying manure over their fields. We could smell it."

    8. Pequea Creek Campground

    14 Reviews
    Pequea, PA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 284-4587

    "Pet friendly and very lush with greenery."

    "Covered bridges and road side shopping are close by. Enjoyed river tubing which is close by to this campground. Music bingo on Saturday night was so much fun. Owners are very nice and helpful."

    9. Otter Creek Campground

    10 Reviews
    Pequea, PA
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 862-3628

    "Pet friendly!"

    "Just down the road about a mile or so was the Indian Steps Museum which is owned by York Conservation Society."

    10. Codorus State Park Campground

    40 Reviews
    Porters Sideling, PA
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (717) 637-2816

    $20 - $195 / night

    "We got a spot for two nights in the pet area. We were shaded by trees, but the spots weren’t very private. Bathroom facilities are nice."

    "The open field pet friendly sites are also large but provide no shade and it gets hot!  You can feel the difference between these sites and the interior loop sites.  "

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Showing results 1-10 of 96 campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Forest Hill, MD

934 Reviews of 96 Forest Hill Campgrounds


  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Artillery Ridge Campground

    Great location and friendly staff

    We have a motorhome with no additional vehicle and two dogs, and this site couldn’t have been more perfect for us. A dog park, walking distance to most everything we wanted to see. The national park is mostly dog friendly. My husband caught a fish first day in the pond behind our site. The staff was super friendly and welcoming.

  • Melissa F.
    Jul. 21, 2018

    Gifford Pinchot State Park Campground

    Wish I stayed there under different circumstances.

    The rangers were nice and the campground hosts were sweet. I liked the dish washing sinks outside of the shower houses. The site was nice with the tent pad backing up to the trees. I would rather sleep in a tent any night over a motel room but this time was different. Due to my father passing, me and my daughter stayed there 3 nights. I will be back another time to actually enjoy the lake and being between Lancaster and Gettysburg makes both places easy to access. Next time I will be getting a site away from the group area. It was nice that the pet area is separate from those of us who don't have pets or want quiet from dogs barking. Some of the groups can get rather loud especially when there are a bunch of teens. It was nice that the pet area is separate from those of us who don't have pets or want quiet from dogs barking.

  • L
    Aug. 6, 2018

    Lums Pond State Park Campground

    Very Dog Friendly

    Campground sites are nice and spacious, bathrooms are good, and there’s plenty to do for everyone. We hiked the 7.5mile lake trail with our two pups. It was beautiful and along the way there were opportunities to kayak/sup, beach it, or even play on a ropes course. We always travel with our dogs and this place has the BEST dog park. Big open space with access to lots of water play. We definitely recommend this spot!

  • E
    Aug. 4, 2021

    Lums Pond State Park Campground

    Impromtu tent camping success!

    I was able to book my site the day before the trip. The site itself was set back some, and felt secluded while still being near the parking area.

    Walk to bathrooms and camp store was on the longer side. Firewood was $5 a bundle, but the register wasn't working and they could only take cash.

    The hiking in the immediate area was beautiful, lots of fun trails and wildlife. Fishing, kayaking, zip lining, tons of great activities.

    The firepits have grates over one half, so campfire cooking is a breeze. Cook up and use the provided picnic table for an easy dinner set up.

    The park itself is very dog friendly and most sites had dogs. There is also an off leash dog park at Lum's pond and dog water dishes outside the camp store.

    The showers and bathrooms were incredibly well kept with hot water and stocked supplies. If you didn't feel like walking so far, the tents had a spiget with running water near the parking areas.

    Reception for Verizon was spotty, t mobile was pretty great. Wish there was an ATM on site though I don't think the cash only situation is a normal one for this campground.

    All in all an amazing trip, and I'll be back as soon as possible.

  • singinajf@aol.com
    May. 26, 2021

    Ramblin' Pines

    Quiet Spot

    The staff and seasonal campers are all very friendly. The bathrooms are incredibly clean. We love all the games there are to play and the dog park is our favorite spot. Overall, it's peaceful and quiet in a nice, wooded setting.

  • C
    Aug. 23, 2018

    Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina

    RV Park surrounded by water!

    Our first visit (March 2018) was just prior to peak season (lower rates) and we had a site literally 10 ft. from the water! Full hook ups and sites were a little close, but nice. There seemed to be a lot of long term/permanent residents, but most sites along the waterfront remained open. The campground seemed to stress pet restrictions both in the rules section of their registration packet and signage around the grounds. There was a pet exercise/walking area, but could use some sprucing up. However, no one really made an issue of walking your dog around the campground and as the weekend came around, more and more dogs were around.

    You have to drive through a residential neighborhood to reach Bar Harbor, so big rigs take care/caution. Would like to try Bar Harbor again sometime.

  • E
    Feb. 28, 2022

    Hershey Road Campground

    So shiny and new!

    Beautiful campground. Very recently renovated. Very spacious and quiet.

    Great little store stocked with everything you need. 

    Very close to Hersheypark. 

    Nicest miniature golf course I’ve ever seen at a RV park. Same can be said for the swimming pool, absolutely beautiful. Great little dog park as well. 

    They have a very nice schedule of monthly events. They had a few food trucks and fruit/vegetable vendors come to the RV park during our stay. 

    Would stay again.

  • Linda B.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Cherry Hill Park

    Actually a 10!!!

    This is a campers dream site.  Everything you can think of is offered here.  You have to check their website to see all.  This is the closest site to Washington DC.  Great location with access to all forms of transportation.  Store fully stocked to include groceries.   Two pools. Hot tub.   Play areas to include a game room and miniature golf.  Pets are pampered here.  Even dog walking service available.

  • Ellen B.
    May. 23, 2019

    Lums Pond State Park Campground

    Great place in the back yard

    We do Lums Pond at least twice a year if we can get reservations.

    Sites are big and all were redone in the last few years with concrete pads, 30 amp service and full sewer. There are some equestrian and tent sites as well.

    Lots of boating (electric motors only) and kayaking on the pond and a decent amount of hiking. There’s an off leash dog park, equestrian center and boat ramp. Book early because it fills up fast!


Guide to Forest Hill

Campsites near Forest Hill, Maryland sit between the Piedmont Plateau and Coastal Plain regions at elevations ranging from 300-500 feet. The area experiences mild summers with temperatures typically reaching 85°F and receives around 45 inches of annual rainfall. Most campgrounds remain open from April through October with limited winter availability at select locations.

What to do

Hiking the river trails: At Susquehanna State Park Campground, trails connect directly to Deer Creek and the Susquehanna River. "I went for a lovely 3 mile evening hike on the trail just down the hill behind the campsite. Scared a bunch of deer (ok they scared me!!) and checked out the giant old growth trees, hiked over a bridge and stream which was full of fish I could see!"

Kayaking and canoeing: Otter Creek Campground offers direct water access. "Its close proximity to the Susquehanna River, Otter Creek, and the Mason Dixon Trail is absolutely ideal!" The campground features boat launches and rental options. "Then throw in Otter Creek... it's a great adventure paddling up the creek."

Fishing opportunities: Many sites at Pequea Creek Campground allow fishing directly from your campsite. "We enjoyed the birds singing in the mornings and welcomed grandkids' visit for splashing and floating in Pequea Creek." Waterfront sites typically cost $5-10 more than standard sites but provide immediate water access.

What campers like

Spacious, wooded sites: Merry Meadows Recreation Farm features campsites scattered throughout natural wooded settings. "Wooded sites, open sites, tent sites. All great!" The campground offers various site types with different levels of shade and privacy. "The sites are spacious with all the amenities."

Clean facilities: Codorus State Park maintains well-kept bathhouses. "Paved sites, modern, clean bathrooms." The park also provides accessible amenities for all campers. "Campground bath houses were very clean, nice hot showers with great showerhead that stayed on without pushing a button."

Special events: Tucquan Park Family Campground hosts regular activities throughout the camping season. "The family that runs the campground makes everyone feel welcome and feel like you've been their 1000 times." Weekly events include "candy bar and regular bingo, corn hole and horse shoe tournaments and a dj." Most activities are free with campsite rental.

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Forest Hill require advance booking, especially for holiday weekends. "We stayed during the late part of the covid19 outbreak in late May of 2020. From the spacious sites, respectful staff and friendly seasonal campers we felt like we didn't have a care in the world."

Site characteristics: At Codorus State Park Campground, site types vary significantly. "There is a wide variety of sites so finding one that you like should not be difficult, there are some in wide-open park-like settings, and some that are treed." Some campgrounds have sloped sites that can challenge tent campers. "The site we originally picked was advertised as 'partially shaded' but when we got there we found one small tree per site in a grass field."

Water availability: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups at every site. "No water but the bath house was close and very clean." Many tent sites require walking to central water spigots, sometimes up to 100 feet away. Most pet-friendly sites include standard water access points.

Tips for camping with families

Activity planning: Jellystone Park in Quarryville offers extensive children's programs. "Fun fun and more fun loads of activities for the kids! Breakfast with Yogi!" The water features are particularly popular during summer months. "The water park was GREAT for kids and adults. Super clean. Lots to do."

Playground options: Several campgrounds feature updated play equipment. "They have a nice playground with a rockwall, slides and swings." These areas provide recreation space for children while adults set up camp. "Our 3 young kids enjoyed the playground the most — there were lots of fun things for the kids on the playground."

Seasonal events: Holiday weekends feature special programming for families with pets. "We stayed here this past Easter and they had plenty of activities for kids and adults. Easter egg hunts for kids, adult scavenger hunts for alcohol." These events typically run on summer weekends and major holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: Bar Harbor RV Park & Marina offers prime waterfront locations for RVs. "The waterfront sites are pricy but right on the water with great views. Some of the trailer sites are a tough back in but worth the trouble." Many dog-friendly campgrounds feature multiple site types. "Sites are paved, pretty level and just a bit close."

Utilities awareness: Electric options vary across pet-friendly campgrounds. "Full hook ups and sites were a little close, but nice." Most sites provide 30-amp service, with 50-amp available at premium locations for an additional $5-10 fee. Some waterfront sites require longer hoses to reach hookups. "Water hookup access was on the ground. It was raining and the area was saturated with no where to drain."

Pet facilities: Dog-friendly campgrounds typically provide designated walking areas. "There was a fenced dog area and play set." Leash restrictions apply in common areas, generally limiting lead length to 6 feet. Most campgrounds require proof of current vaccinations at check-in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Forest Hill, MD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Forest Hill, MD is Susquehanna State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 24 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Forest Hill, MD?

TheDyrt.com has all 96 dog-friendly camping locations near Forest Hill, MD, with real photos and reviews from campers.